Donald J. Trump: Trail of Lies, Denial, Deception, Practices, and False Hope

A Funny Cartoon Yet Very Serious 

(Makes the point about denial)

Take Your Pick: Compulsive or Pathological Lying 

(Can’t be both, right)

This medical introduction to the following post that is both timely and I think strongly warranted at this point in American presidential history – enjoy.

Donald Trump: Documented Trail of Lies, Denial, and Deceit

Introduction and Background:

Compulsive lying often develops when individuals are very young and heightens with age when more opportunities for fabrication are presented. Gradually throughout childhood and adolescence into adulthood, lying becomes more and more frequent, eliciting a sense of control in the affected individuals. 

They experience a sense of power over situations when they lie and become uneasy and uncomfortable when forced to tell the truth. Soon enough, dishonesty becomes habit, which then leads to classification in the compulsive lying disorder category.

Compulsive Lying Disorder: This is frequently confused with pathological lying, but it’s important to recognize the difference between the two.

1.  Compulsive liars engage in dishonesty because it is their automatic response to questions and situations.

2.  Pathological liars skilled at manipulation of people and to achieve their goals with complete disregard for the feelings of others.

However, both compulsive and pathological lying is associated with antisocial personality disorder, more commonly known as “psychopathic behavior.” For more information about the various aspects of personality that can make an individual more or less susceptible to developing disorders such as the ones described above, take a look at this course on the psychology of personality.

Now to this post as I try to tie the above afflictions into the Mr. Trump’s argument that the Affordable Care Act (ACA – Obama-care) “doesn’t work and provides lousy healthcare.”

Mr. Trump continues to have former President Bill Clinton saying the ACA law is “crazy” and that Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said the law “is no longer affordable.”

But both comments are lifted out of context – Fact Check proves it.

Mr. Trump has vowed all along to work with Congress to repeal and replace President Obama’s signature legislation (the ACA) soon after he takes office on January 20 at high noon. Indeed, on January 3, the new all-GOP Congress took the first step toward that repeal of the law.

And, on the same day, Trump took to twitter (his fav pastime it seems) to argue that even Democrats who once supported the law now think it is bad, ergo: The Clinton and Dayton quotes out of context. He began by referring to comments back in October from former President Clinton, who at the time was campaigning for his wife, Hillary:

Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump

People must remember that ObamaCare just doesn't work, and it is not affordable - 116% increases (Arizona). Bill Clinton called it “CRAZY.”

His second tweet a mere five minutes later referenced comments made by Gov. Dayton:

Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump

The Democrat Governor of Minnesota said “The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) is no longer affordable!” – And it is lousy healthcare.

In both cases, Trump shortened the quotes to present them in a light less favorable than a fuller context reveals. Further, and in both cases above, Clinton and Dayton made comments critical of the ACA, but both said they remained supporters of the law and blamed Republicans for refusing to make changes to improve it.

Thus, I now more firmly believe and much documentation proves me correct as well as hundreds of others including medical experts that Donald J. Trump is one or both or combination of the liars described above. Do you agree or not? That is expanded on a bit more below:

Sociopathic Liars: Defined as someone who lies continuously in an attempt to get their own way, without showing care or concern for others. They are goal-oriented.  Even though it might seem hard to believe, lying is focused – they are focused on getting their own way. Sociopaths don’t have a lot of respect or regard for the feelings and rights of others. They tend to be charismatic and charming, but they will use their exceptional social skills in a self-centered and manipulative manner.

Compulsive Liars: Defined as someone who continually lies from sheer habit, and tends to be their normal manner of responding to any questions from others. They will always bend the truth, regardless of how small or large the question is. For them, telling the truth doesn’t feel right. They are uncomfortable whenever they tell the truth, while lying makes them feel right. Their lying is often thought to manifest during childhood, due to being put into situations and environments where lying became a necessity. Most of the time, compulsive liars aren’t cunning or manipulative, rather they only lie because it has become such a habit for them.

All the country can do now is wait and watch (mostly his tweets on policy or some raw insult about others for us to absorb). Thus, what to expect or will comes about in the upcoming Trump administration leaves a lot of blank spaces. 

In all honestly taking all that Trump has said and done up to this point does not foreshadow well for the ending to this dramatic story, at least in my opinion.

Stay tuned.